Northern Virginia Real Estate Podcast with AJ Team Realty

3 Steps to Find the Best School for Your Kids

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 09:55:00 -0700

Here are three steps you can take to find the best school for your kids.

As a parent, I understand the importance of a good school. Giving your child a great education is one of the most important gifts you can give. When my family and I moved recently, picking a home in a great school zone was a huge consideration. Today I would like to go over my family’s steps for picking a great school so you can pick the best location for your children:

1. It’s okay to start with online reviews, but make sure you read them thoroughly. If you’re like me, you’ve never left an online review on anything. Therefore, you have to understand that people leaving online reviews for schools might have different motivations than you. Are their issues with the school personally directed at an administrator, or is their critique systematic? Nothing beats the convenience of online reviews, but make sure you take them with a grain of salt.

2. Talk to local experts. School board members, teachers, and parents are all great resources to find a great school. Parents especially are nice to talk to, because they share the same interests as you. Ask members of your local community where they send their children, or if they went to school in the area, ask them what it was like.

"School board members, teachers, and parents are all great resources to find a great school."

3. Prioritize what's right for you. I have a friend who recently pulled their daughter from a top-10 local school to send her to one outside of the top 10. If you only go by online reviews, this doesn’t make a lot of sense, but his family valued things the top-10 school couldn’t offer. Whether it’s athletics, diversity, language courses, or anything else your child needs, you shouldn’t stick strictly to ratings if the top schools don’t fit your priorities.

Hopefully you found these tips useful. If you have any questions about today’s topic or anything else related to real estate, do not hesitate to reach out to me. I am always willing to help.

Why a Real Estate Relationship Might be Right for You

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:17:00 -0700

The difference between a real estate agent and a real estate relationship.

Today I'd like to talk to you about the difference between a real estate agent and a real estate relationship. A lot of people view the two things as interchangeable, but I’ll explain how they differ and why a relationship might be in your best interest.

You can watch my full explanation above, or skip around using the timestamps I’ve included below for your convenience.

0:00 - Introduction

0:24 - What is a real estate agent?

1:35 - A real estate relationship helps you with strategy

2:08 - A real estate relationship should make you smarter

2:50 - A real estate relationship involves tough and enlightening conversations

5:15 - A real estate relationship opens up their network to you

7:07 - Wrapping up

If you are looking for a standard real estate agent, that’s fine. However, at AJ Team Realty, we focus on building relationships and saving our clients money over a long period of time. If this sounds right for you, or if you have any other real estate questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us. We’re always here to help.

AirBnB 101 #TurksAndCaicos

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Here are three good tips for how to leave an Airbnb.

Today I’m here with my wife Christal Johnson at the Leeward Settlement in Turks & Caicos. She owns

Airbnb properties here in the DMV, so she knows all the rules that people should follow when it comes

to renting an Airbnb, especially when it comes to leaving one:

Clean up after yourself. When you’re leaving, treat the property like you would a friend's home and clean up all your trash.
Put the towels in the wash. If you really want to be a great guest, you could get the towels started in the washing machine so that the owners can easily turn over the property for the next guest.
Leave a good tip. A good tip allows the owners to continue to take good care of their property and guests and shows appreciation for all their hard work.

In short, when you leave an Airbnb, do your best to leave the premises nicer than when you first arrived. If you have any questions about renting Airbnb properties or anything else to do with real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

What It’s Like to Sell a Home With the AJ Team at Your Side

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Here’s what it’s like to have the AJ Team sell your home.

A while ago, I spoke with one of our clients, Emile Davis, to get an understanding of what the home-selling process was like from his side of the table. The first episode of our interview aired in mid-April, and we’re back today for the second and final part.

I’ve known Emile for a long time, but I understand there needs to be a balance when working with friends in a professional setting. After all, you don’t necessarily want your buddy making life-changing financial decisions for you. So, I asked Emile how he felt while working with me—his friend and his agent.

Emile believes that, although we were good friends, we were able to press pause when it came to

doing business. When doing paperwork, consultations, walk-throughs, and other sales-related tasks,

Emile says I gave my advice and worked as a professional first and foremost. According to him, it

was a situation that worked out incredibly well.

“

By knowing Emile, I understood that our team

wasn’t just working for his needs—we needed to advocate for his family as well.

”

Emile and I actually started talking about selling his home about two years ago, and it’s a route I think everyone should follow with their agent. Start talking to your Realtor well before you’re ready to move. It lets them know that you’re in an area of your life where you’ll need to move soon, but it also lets you know what kind of agent they actually are.

You get to see how they answer your questions, understand how they work within the market, and witness their success as a professional. By the time you’re ready to sell, you’ve already built up a good relationship with your Realtor. For example, by knowing Emile, I understood that our team wasn’t just working for his needs—we needed to advocate for his family as well.

Emile also praised our vendors for their high level of professionalism. They came through right on time, gave great advice, and provided fantastic service. He said that, essentially, the AJ Team’s standards of care trickled down to everyone else he interacted with during the selling process.

I’d like to thank Emile for sharing his candid thoughts about how it felt working with us. If you’d like to learn more about what we can do for you, or if you have any questions about real estate, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Emile Davis on Selling His Home With Our Team

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Here’s how a recent client describes working with The AJ Team.

We recently helped Emile Davis and his wife sell their home, and today he joins me to recount his

experience during the process. Emile was previously part of a home sale that was coordinated by

a solo agent, so he’s uniquely qualified to describe the benefits of selling your home with The AJ

Team behind you. He compares our ability to work together to that of a Cirque du Soleil troupe, and

he was so impressed with our service that he convinced members of his family to trust us with their

home-selling needs.

Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the

video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety, or use these timestamps to browse specific points

at your leisure:

0:07—Emile Davis’ favorite part of working with The AJ Team

1:03—What it looks like when our team works together and is in sync

2:32—Emile’s perspective on working with a solo agent versus with a team

5:34—Why Emilie compares our team to a Cirque du Soleil troupe

6:00—Emile and his family’s future plans with The AJ Team

6:33—Wrapping things up

If you have questions about working with The AJ Team or need help selling your home, don’t hesitate

to reach out to me. I’m happy to help.

Our Clients Are Our Family

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0700

Mrs. Taylor is glad to be a part of our family, and we’re glad to be a part of hers.

God brings people into our lives sometimes to remind us of those who’ve been in our lives before, and

I recently had a conversation with one of those people, Mrs. Taylor, that I want to share with you.

My team and I helped Mrs. Taylor sell a home, and she reminds me of the women in my family: the love,

hugs, spirit, and energy. As we were working for her, that was always in my heart and on my mind. This

is someone’s grandmother, someone’s aunt, someone’s loved one. Those things mean a lot to us. Mrs. Taylor is now glad to be a part of our family, and we plan on calling her from time to time to check up on her.

“

We’re dealing with someone who’s precious to someone else, and all of our clients are precious to us.

”

So much of this business is about transactions, commissions, and pricing, but I find that the people

that are brought into our lives are about more than that. They typify the conversation I had with

Mrs. Taylor. We’re always cognizant that we’re dealing with someone's family, and for us that’s paramount. We’re dealing with someone who’s precious to someone else, and all of our clients are precious to us. If they don’t feel loved throughout the transaction, we feel like we left something on the table.

If you have a loved one in your life who needs help buying or selling a home, give my team a call. We

can take it as fast or slow as they want. Oftentimes we end up cleaning messes other people made in the past, but we try not to hold that over their heads while we gracefully guide them to the results they want and need.

As always, if you have any other real estate needs at all, feel free to reach out to me. I’d love

to hear from you.

Top 3 Meals in Aruba

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0700

In a break from real estate content, we’re taking you with us to Aruba.

In today's video, I’m coming to you live from Aruba to show you the three places you have to eat in

and the menu items you need to try.

The first is Yemanja, located downtown behind the Renaissance Hotel. My favorite meal here is the

skirt steak. When you come here, ask for Kevin, then ask Kevin for the skirt steak. Check it out at

0:50 in the video above.

“

Wacky Wahoo’s grouper comes out piping

hot and delicious.

”

Next, we’re off to Wacky Wahoo’s. They cook all fish well, but they have some of the best grouper

I’ve ever had. What my wife loves about it is that it comes out piping hot and delicious. Check it

out at 1:44 in the video above

Finally, we’re at Craft and Lola. They have two things that we love here: The nachos and the Korean

fried chicken sandwich. It has a great outdoor vibe too, as you can see in the video at 2:05.

If you need more recommendations for Aruba or have any real estate-related questions, don’t

hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Current Housing Market Revealed In 5 Minutes

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0800

At any point, we’re either in a buyer’s, seller’s, or balanced market.

When it comes to real estate, there are three types of markets. The first, which we’re in right now, is a seller’s market (and a hyper-seller’s market to boot). The second is a balanced market, and the third is a buyer’s market.

Being in a seller’s market means people are willing to pay more money than what a home is worth, and there are several reasons why this is the case right now. Low interest rates and low inventory are a few examples. We recently listed a home in Manassas for $450,000 that ended up selling for $480,000. Oftentimes, people think we go straight from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market, but we actually go to a balanced market first before we can transition to a buyer’s market.

“

A seller in a buyer’s market will net

less money, but that doesn’t mean a buyer will pay

less for their home.

”

A balanced market is when people are willing to pay exactly what homes are worth. If a home is worth $475,000, that’s exactly what they’ll pay for it. People tend to think that a buyer’s market means people are willing to pay less for homes, but it’s not so much about what buyers are willing to pay as it is what sellers are going to net. A seller in a buyer’s market will net less money, but that doesn’t mean a buyer will pay less for their home. If a home is listed at $475,000, that doesn’t mean the buyer will get the home for $475,000 or less; it means they have more leverage to get the things they need to buy that house.

For example, in a balanced market or a seller’s market, a buyer wouldn’t be able to ask for, say, $12,000 in closing costs for that $475,000 home. In a buyer’s market, they would. They might also be able to get home inspection items worth about $5,000. So by selling their $475,000 home in a buyer’s market, that seller is netting $17,000 less.

So remember: We won’t go directly from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. We may spend two to three years in a balanced market before transitioning, but if and when we do, it doesn’t automatically mean you’ll pay less for a home.

As always, if you have questions about our market or are thinking of buying a home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you. You have the dream; we have the address.

We just want to say THANK YOU!!!

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0800

Here’s how our team did in 2020 and how we were able to give back.

The AJ Team had another fantastic year in 2020. Despite the uncertainty that COVID-19 brought to our market (and our world), our team sold 195 homes in 2020. Our total sales volume was $83 million, and we were able to donate over $68,000 in revenue to relief efforts in our community. Thank you so much for your support and trust this year. We’re still here to handle all your real estate needs in 2021, and the best is yet to come.

If you have any real estate needs that we can assist with, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Your 2021 DMV Housing Outlook

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Tue, 9 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0800

Here are my predictions for the year ahead in our DMV market.

Welcome to your 2021 DMV housing outlook! Every year during this time, I like to look back on the

previous year and share my thoughts and predictions about what lies ahead. We’re still in a seller’s market,

but that may very well start to change soon. Interest rates and inventory will make or break your plans if

you’re a buyer or seller.

Feel free to watch the video above in its entirety to get all my predictions or use these timestamps

to skip ahead to various sections at your leisure:

0:26—Watch interest rates closely

1:02—Why I think inventory levels will convince sellers to cash out

1:51—If you’re thinking of investing, look to the ‘tertiary’ counties (i.e., those outside the Beltway)

3:07—How increasing home renovation costs affect you

4:08—We’re still in a seller’s market, but that could change for one of two reasons

5:04—The last word from CNBC

6:10—Wrapping things up

As always, if you have questions about our DMV market or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon,

don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m happy to help.

Who Will Be Most Affected by a Market Shift?

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0800

A shift is coming; here’s what DMV buyers and sellers should know.

We’re closer to the top of the market than we’ve been, so it’s not a matter of if the market is going to shift but when. Today I’m talking about which DMV submarkets will be most at risk when that shift finally does happen, and what homeowners, sellers, and buyers should know about the drop ahead as we edge closer to the top of the ride.

First and foremost, it will be more of a commercial shift than a residential one. That doesn’t mean we won’t see a pullback in residential real estate, but I’m predicting (as I’m sure plenty of smart people out there are also predicting) that the commercial real estate shift will be much more drastic.

Think about office spaces; how many people will soon be going back to the office? Consider retail, which is getting crushed right now. What about all of those A-class apartments being built right now? Who’s going to fill them, especially if they’re in the city centers?

26% more people are looking at rural properties now compared to this time last year. The pandemic has forced us to change how we live and how we appreciate our homes and it will continue to do so, but I think those changes will be more directly felt in the commercial market.

Secondly, 77% of homes in forbearance have at least 20% or more in equity, so I don’t think we’ll see a glut of foreclosures. Depending on how many people nationwide are delinquent come late fall and winter, I think we’ll see more short sales than foreclosures; there will likely be a lot of people needing to get out of their current homes, but they’ll be able to make a move more or less on their own terms.

How many condos have been built (or are still being built) in Washington D.C. in just the past five, seven, or 10 years? The answer: a ton. If you have a lot of the same type of inventory, those assets tend to be more affected when a market shift occurs. Keep a close eye on what happens to D.C. condos, but to my Virginia and Maryland friends: We’re not out of the boat, either.

While roughly 8% of all mortgages are delinquent right now, people are much more likely to miss their condo fee payment first; when people can’t pay those fees, it affects condo values more than you’d think. Most condos, especially in the DMV, belong to first-time homebuyers, and those classic first-time buyer programs like FHA and VA won’t insure those condos. If you take these people out of the market, condo values are greatly impacted.

In neighborhoods where the builder is still building, if they still have anywhere between four or eight more years to build, you’ll be competing directly against them when the market shifts—they’re surely not going anywhere anytime soon.

When it comes to luxury homes, we’re already seeing a pullback. I expect that to intensify in the future. Of course, there are always really well-built, custom luxury homes out there, but the luxury homes that were half-assed (I use that word loosely here) will be most affected.

Fixer-uppers will be more or less safe, as those properties will always be valuable to those who want to put more value into where they live. However, sellers who poured money into the wrong updates will be more at risk in this coming shift. Right now, buyers don’t have a choice, but when they have a choice, they’ll weigh your haphazard renovations against someone else’s smarter, more precise renovations.

We’re always looking out for shifts in the market and helping sellers, buyers, and investors make sense of them. If you’re thinking about buying or selling soon, please reach out to us here at the AJ Team via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you! Remember: You have a dream; we have the address.

Our Mission to Be a Blessing Continues

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Tue, 5 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0800

The response to our recent charity initiative has been tremendous.

As you know, one of AJ Team Realty’s core values is “be a blessing,” and we recently partnered with friend and social worker Erin Hancock to identify 12 local families we could collectively bless this holiday season with gift cards, cash, and prayers. Today Erin joins me to give an update on this initiative and the tremendous response we’ve gotten. Our goal was to raise $10,000 through our nonprofit organization, Be a Blessing Foundation, Inc., but we’ve exceeded that goal. All the while, Erin has been crisscrossing Prince William County doing wonderful work.

As I’ve said before, if you’d like to be involved in this outreach in an ongoing manner, feel free to reach out to Erin directly. This is NOT about the AJ Team...this is about God’s work and us collectively being His hands and feet. Thank you.

How We Strive to Be a Blessing to Those in Need

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 13:10:00 -0800

Will you help us to help those in need this holiday season?

One of AJ Team Realty’s core values is “be a blessing.” This year, we’ve had to undergo a bit of a change when it comes to being a blessing to our community. We’re so used to being able to go to the schools and mentor students, and just generally address any needs as they’re presented.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that one of our clients, Megan Radcliffe, had unfortunately passed away. She was a social worker in Manassas, and I would always call her around this time of year to ask her who we could bless. Megan would always get us a good list and hold us accountable for getting things done.

“

I’m not just a person of prayer but also a person of action.

”

This year we reached out to one of Megan’s good friends Erin, a guidance counselor at a local high school. She helped us to identify 11 families, who we gave $100 gift cards from Wegmans to help them make a Thanksgiving dinner.

I woke up in the middle of the night recently thinking about these families, and I asked God to cover and provide for them. I heard Him speak to me in response: It wasn’t on Him to help them, but rather on us. I’m not just a person of prayer but also a person of action, and I thought these gift cards were just one way that we could really help those in need.

You can also help us spread the love this season by following this link, where you can donate gift cards to people who need them. If there’s a specific family you want to help, you’re more than welcome to do that, as well.

Reach out to us if you know of anyone who could use a little blessing this holiday season or if you have any questions. We’d love to hear from you.

How Are We Helping Those in Need?

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Tue, 8 Dec 2020 10:30:00 -0800

We’re keeping the spirit of the season alive by helping others in need.

This has been a tough season for many local families.

We have decided to partner with a good friend and social worker at a local high school, to identify 12

families that we can collectively bless. We personally met each family a few days before Thanksgiving

when we delivered $5k in gift cards, cash, and prayers.

We thought that was the end, but as we got to know these families better and heard their stories,

we knew it wouldn’t be right not to continue.

Mom of 3 can’t work due to chemo.

Mom taking care of a disabled husband who can’t work. Behind on rent and utilities. *We

got them caught up, but every month is a month they are falling behind.

10th grader living w/ extended family and is responsible for his utilities, food, etc.

22-year-old taking care of his 3 younger sisters. Mom passed away last year.

“

The AJ Team will be donating $10k to these families.

”

These are just a few of the stories. They are heartbreaking and hit far too close to home.

Many times I find that when we are looking to change the world, God is simply asking us to take

care of our neighbors.

Our plan is to bless these families with the help of our family (YOU)!

The AJ Team will be donating $10k to these families for rent, utilities, and emergency funds.

It would be a blessing for you to consider adopting a family or donate a gift card.

Below are links to e-gift cards. You can send them directly to Erin!

Erin Hancock: HancocES@pwcs.edu 703.200.3151

Our goal is to have these gift cards distributed to these families by December 15, 2020. If you

prefer to donate directly through our non-profit organization, Be a Blessing Foundation, Inc. to take

advantage of tax-deductible charitable contributions, that link is below as well. **Receipts will be

provided for any donation over $250. Please include an email address for delivery.

If you’d like to be involved in an ongoing manner, feel free to reach out to Erin directly. This is NOT about the AJ Team..... This is about God’s work and us collectively being His hands and feet. Thank you.

What Am I Thankful for in the DMV Real Estate Market?

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 14:48:00 -0800

Here are the things I’m most thankful for, personally and professionally.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, today I wanted to bring you a list of the things that I’m most thankful for when it comes to our real estate market.

First, I’m thankful that the DMV market is in a protective bubble of sorts; agents that I talk to all over the country reiterate that we’re in a very advantageous place to do life, business, and real estate. A market slowdown in the DMV, for example, is very different from the slowdowns they have in Omaha or Louisville. In those places, home values would drop as soon as the market shifted. For us, we may just have homes sit on the market a little longer than normal or see a slight reduction in home appreciation. I’m very thankful that we’re in this real estate market, and it’s served us well this year.

Another thing I’m thankful for is the diversity in our market and among our clients. We get the opportunity to work with folks all over the world, and we are truly blessed to be able to do that.

“
I’m thankful for all your support.
”

I’m also very thankful for all of our clients and referral partners. In fact, 85% of the homes we will sell this year are from past clients and referrals. Thanks for all of your support.

Next, I’m thankful that I get to work with an awesome team full of people who care more about the clients than the commission. Our team goes above and beyond to make the real estate experience exceptional for those who work with us.

Finally, I’m thankful for our mission-driven real estate business. We get to use this platform to serve, spread God’s love, and work in our purpose every day. Not everybody gets that opportunity, and we’re very thankful that we do.

If you have any questions for me or real estate needs I can assist with, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Happy Thanksgiving!

Q: What Scary Things Have I Been Seeing in Our Market?

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:36:00 -0700

Here are a few scary real estate market trends to watch out for this Halloween.

In the spirit of Halloween, today I want to talk about some really spooky things that I’m seeing in the housing market right now. It would behoove you to steer clear of these scary situations:

1. Deals falling apart. More and more buyers are getting cold feet; sellers are not realizing that the market’s shifting and they should be a little more realistic about where the market is now and where it was eight months ago. If we were seeing 5% of deals fall apart in the DMV last year, we’re seeing closer to 10% this year.

2. Appraisals coming up short. The market is at a certain level, and the appraisals are below it, so we’re having to try to find a happy medium.

3. Longer lists of home inspection requests. I wrote about the 1% rule in my book: If you’re selling or buying a house and the home inspection list totals up to 1% or less of the purchase price, you have a really good home. However, we’re starting to see longer lists that add up to much more than that. We recently had a three-page inspection list for what we thought was a relatively decent house.

“

More and more appraisals are coming in under the purchase price.

”

4. Delays in settlement. This forces agents to have a lot of early conversations and set the right expectations with their clients and the companies they work with. I’ll tell you from firsthand experience that credit unions are having a hard time getting to settlement because of the hours they work and the sheer amount of mortgages they’re financing right now. This can be really scary for you as a buyer, especially if you have a strict timeline.

5. Fear of the market. I'm getting a lot of calls from agents, buyers, and homeowners who are fearful. I usually tell them not to let the news dictate what’s going on in their household. As for the agents, I’m willing to bet about 75% of them have only sold in one type of market and don’t know how to adjust when the market shifts like this. If you’re a young agent out there, I encourage you to reach out to more experienced agents for advice and mentorship. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.

6. Condos losing FHA appraisals. This was the first sign that the market was shifting way back in 2007. When condo owners start to miss their mortgage payments, the first thing they actually miss is their condo fees. When you start to see that happening a lot in a condo complex, they become delinquent, and the FHA won’t approve any loans for the entire condo complex.

If you have any questions for me about these scary trends or real estate in general, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We’d be happy to help you steer clear of all the ghosts and ghouls out there. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Q: How Can I Form Positive Partnerships?

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 07:59:00 -0700

Today my father joined me to discuss the power of positive partnerships.

2020 is the year of partnerships. To demonstrate the power of partnership, imagine you were climbing a mountain. If, for some reason, your foot slipped and you began to fall, a partner could catch the rope and pull you back up so you could regain your footing.

The strength in partnership is that you can cover more ground with someone else than you could by yourself. You can leave a lot of options on the table if you don’t partner with like-minded people with whom you have chemistry.

Some people out there don’t want to find a partner because they want to be the boss, or they want to partner with someone who already is their boss. How do they navigate those situations?

“

If one is committed only to being the boss, then the partnership just won’t work.

”

Many people never get off the ground because they’re ego-driven. My father is almost 70 years old

and he still listens to me and comes to me for advice. The key to strong partnerships is to

consider yourselves equally yolked. If one is committed only to being the boss, then the

partnership just won’t work.

If you’d like more great guidance on the power of partnerships and how to sustain them, I highly

encourage you to read “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason. Otherwise, if you have

any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you.

Our Tribute to Meagan #RestInPerfect

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Mon, 5 Oct 2020 06:48:00 -0700

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Meagan Radcliffe.

The AJ Team mourns the loss of one of our clients, Meagan Radcliffe. She meant a lot to all of us, and we can’t believe she’s gone. So many fond memories, laughs, and joyous interactions with her have impacted not only my life, but the lives of everyone else on our team. You really don’t know how much people mean to you until they're gone. A gofundme page has been organized to help her husband, Joey, and her daughters, Aubree and Everleigh, get through this unthinkable tragedy. To learn more about the life of Meagan Radcliffe and why she meant so much to all of us, watch my latest video.

How Will the Presidential Election Affect the Housing Market?

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 13:07:00 -0700

Here are my thoughts on the potential impact of the election on our real estate market.

I knew this question would come my way sooner or later: A home seller recently asked me how the upcoming election would affect the real estate market. I imagine I’ll be hearing that question more and more as we get closer to November 3, so I wanted to give a detailed answer today.

Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety, or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure:

0:50- Why nobody truly knows how elections will impact the market

1:45- How office space and retail real estate will be affected

3:05- My thoughts on how interest rates will be affected

4:05- How sale numbers change from election years to non-election years

5:02- How our economic situation is different from other areas of the country

6:31- Wrapping things up

If you have any questions for me about the market or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Q: What Is Allen Johnson’s Biggest “Lesson Learned”?

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 11:08:00 -0700

In a recent Inman News column, Allen Johnson shared his “lessons learned”.

Allen Johnson, our head of AJ Team Realty, was recently featured in “Lesson Learned,” a popular Inman News column by Christy Murdock Edgar where real estate professionals share important insights they’ve learned during their time in the industry. Allen’s central advice was to navigate both the highs and lows of real estate with the same balanced mindset, because after all, “...life is bigger than selling a house. We serve families.”

In addition to warning against constantly chasing numbers, Allen also talked about the value of joining a real estate team and his goals for the next five years. Check out the whole article here.

How to Find Your Real Estate Lane

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Wed, 9 Sep 2020 09:18:00 -0700

Here’s some advice if you haven’t found yours yet.

I’m joined once again by my father, Lenwood, to discuss some of the information from my book. This time, we focused on how to find your lane in real estate.

Here’s an outline of our discussion, with timestamps so that you can skip around to the section(s) that interest you the most:

0:55- How did my father find his lane in real estate?

3:55- Why you need a strong agent to act as your “GPS”

5:00- Why sharing our expertise can be a double-edged sword

6:30- A story that demonstrates why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover or an agent by their language

8:23- Why you shouldn't’ be afraid of making mistakes in real estate

9:15- Wrapping things up

If you have any questions for me about anything we discussed or anything related to real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I’d love to hear from you.

How Were We Able to Raise $30,000 to Help Feed Local Families?

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 07:47:00 -0700

We were glad to be able to lend a hand to our local school community.

As you may know, I’m a parent mentor at Featherstone Elementary School. As a mentor, I felt it was my responsibility to do what I could to help the school community when COVID-19 first hit. When I reached out to Featherstone Elementary, they told me they needed groceries for families in need. That’s when my team and I sprang into action.

All told, we were able to raise $30,000 to provide food for local families. To learn more about our efforts to help the community, you can read this article that was recently published on the Prince William County Public Schools website.

Helping those in need is more important now than ever, so if you have a cause you’re passionate about that my team and I can assist with, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m here to help.

Guess Who's Graduating

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 07:59:00 -0700

We’re giving a huge shoutout to our very own Sam Eligwe as he embarks on a new journey.

Today, we want everyone to join in on a special celebration: Sam Eligwe, who’s been with our team for four years, is starting his own real estate venture. It’s been amazing to watch Sam grow, and he’s enriched not just our team but our lives on a deeper level, too! We’re thankful for his contributions to AJ Team Realty and the community, and we’re excited about what God will do for his business and his ministry.

Sometimes in life, we can miss the importance of letting people grow from us and find their next journey. We’ve had a lot of success together, but now it’s time for Sam to fly the nest and be the leader that God wants him to be.

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We’re thankful to have been a part of Sam’s journey, and though we’re sad to see him go, we know that this is the right move.

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We can’t wait to see what’s in store for Sam, Maria, their girls, and everyone in their broader reach. We’re thankful to have been a part of his journey, and though we’re sad to see him go, we know that this is the right move.

Now, here’s a quick note for our clients: If you’re currently involved in any deals that include Sam, know that there will be no change to your transaction; you’ve likely already received a call from us explaining that nothing at all will feel different, and that your needs will continue to be met and your expectations will be exceeded.

It’s often said that the measure of a leader is reflected in the leaders they grow. Sam has pushed us to grow in many ways, and just because we’re not in business together anymore, it doesn’t mean that we’re not in life together. Congratulations, Sam!

P.S. “Sam, I hope you know we'll still be competing on the basketball court. I was holding back a little since we worked together, but now it’s on! Elbows will be flying.” — Allen.

LA talks about his journey from 0 to 50 units. #PowerofVision

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 12:15:00 -0700

Here’s what it means to be a dreamer that gets out of bed and actually works toward their dreams.

If you only believe that which you can see in the present or immediate future, it means you’re not dreaming big enough.

That being said, if you’re dreaming all day in bed and lack the resolve to get up and put together a plan of action, then you’re just stuck in a dream—or a nightmare.

When folks start reading a book, people tend to start at the beginning, then peek at the final chapters to know how it all turns out. People don’t like reading the middle of a book, because there’s a lot of faith in the middle, and a lot of work, too.

People are only interested in your success. They want to know how much money you make and how many houses you have; they never want to hear about your failures.

Here are few of my mentor/ father’s mistakes, as told by him:

“Not listening to my gut. For example, there have been times I held on to properties when I should have let go, and other times when I held on to some that should have been sold. I purchased some properties at $80,000 or $90,000, and several would have been worth over $500,000 now.

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People don’t like the middle of a book, because those chapters are where the faith is needed.

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Not seeking counseling. I didn’t have enough people around me to give me advice when I was starting out.”

That last point is critical. The AJ Team has some very smart clients: doctors, lawyers, CEOs, etc., yet, no matter their intelligence or professional know-how, they’re very concerned about our opinion as real estate agents. They know their limitations. They know real estate is what we do everyday.

Building a vision comes down to seeking out the viewpoints of others who may be able to see what you can’t. Though a specific situation or process may be brand-new to you, a person who’s been through it numerous times will always be able to see things more clearly.

In the words of L.A Johnson, “Leave the Beamer at the car dealership, buy the dealership building. Do that, and you’ll never regret it.” Dreaming big is integral to building a vision.

As always, if you have questions related to this topic or real estate in general, please feel free to reach out by phone or email. I’m happy to have an honest conversation with you about dreams, failures, and industry realities.

Race and Real Estate #MyStory

info@AJTeamRealty.com (Christal Johnson) — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 10:05:00 -0700

In light of recent events, I want to share my story of how I got into real estate.

Let’s face it: Race is something that affects every segment of our society. To help illuminate the role it still plays in real estate, today I want to share my story of how I got into the business. It all started when I went through the process of buying my first home. It was during that time I realized my calling was helping people that wouldn’t necessarily get the help they needed buying their first home and understanding how to build wealth through real estate. To find out more, watch the video above.